Bienvenue! Welcome to the world’s most visited country—France, a nation that has shaped global art, philosophy, and democracy for centuries. There are around 68 million people living here, and the capital is Paris, the “City of Light,” famous for its iconic landmarks and romantic atmosphere. The official language is French.
France covers about 551,695 square kilometers (213,011 square miles) in Europe, but its total territory is much larger due to overseas regions. To imagine its size, the European part of France is roughly the same size as the state of Texas in the U.S., or about the same size as Thailand in Asia. It is the largest country in the European Union and is uniquely shaped like a Hexagon, which is also a popular nickname for the nation.
The most popular sports are Football (they are two-time World Cup winners!), Rugby, and Cycling, most notably the world-famous Tour de France. Their national animal is the Gallic Rooster, a symbol of bravery and vigilance that you’ll see on everything from ancient coins to the national football team’s jerseys.
The flag consists of three vertical stripes of blue, white, and red, where the blue and red are the traditional colors of Paris and the white represents the monarchy, combined during the French Revolution to symbolize the union of the people and the state.
The food is legendary and is even recognized by UNESCO as “intangible cultural heritage.” You must try a fresh Baguette or a flaky Croissant from a local boulangerie. For a main course, Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stewed in red wine) or Coq au Vin are timeless classics. France is also the world’s premier producer of Wine and produces over 1,600 different types of Cheese!
France is home to the Eiffel Tower, which was originally intended to be a temporary structure for the 1889 World’s Fair. It is also home to the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum, where you can see the Mona Lisa. If you love history, you can visit the Palace of Versailles, the glittering home of Louis XIV, or the Mont Saint-Michel, a stunning medieval abbey built on a tidal island. France is also a pioneer in high-speed travel with the TGV trains, and its fashion houses—like Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton—set the style for the entire planet. For nature lovers, the French Alps offer the highest peak in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, while the French Riviera provides some of the most glamorous coastlines in the world.
From the lavender fields of Provence to the historic beaches of Normandy, France is a land of elegance, history, and “joie de vivre” (the joy of living). Merci! That means “Thank you!”